Deadline: Dems will nuke filibuster if health-care reform doesn’t pass by October 15
The reconciliation instruction specifies a date. That date, according to one congressional staffer, is October 15. (The original House reconciliation instruction had a late September deadline.)
In other words, the House and Senate each have until that day to pass health care legislation.
If they haven't, then both houses will consider health care under the reconciliation process, which is relevant primarily for the way it affects the Senate. There will be a limit on the time of debate. Republicans won't be able to filibuster it.
Well, I guess they are just living up to their expectation. Liberals act all nice and such, but when it comes down to it, it will be a liberal that choose to actually use a "nuclear option" before anybody else—other people have a soul, liberals, like the Japanese, do not.
I suppose I don't really care (because I don't care about health care, as long as it doesn't result in new taxes) as long as they don't complain and whine when the conservatives take back the houses.
Besides, if they do exercise the nuke option, well, when this whole thing falls apart, now it will be squarely on their heads, although with people like Mr. Frank in their ranks, I'm not sure how much of the responsibility they would accept on this partisan decision.